Epic Tank Battle… If you were scoreboard watching while this game was going on like a lot of Laker fans, you noticed the Suns taking a big lead and cruising against Oklahoma. That game was all but decided when the fourth quarter came along for the Lakers. Luke dusted off Metta to run him with Black, Robinson, Brewer and Ennis to start that quarter, the Lakers down just 1.

The tank battle intensified with every missed freethrow, three pointer, fluke score and whistle. Could the Sacramento bigs suck more?

Metta posted up, Lakers down 1 and drew FTs to take the lead. Then Luke went with Randle, Russell and Clarkson. Kings went up a few points, then Russell hit a three to take the lead back.

Comments from Lakers fans up by 2 at this point with 2:30 left to play:

“Damn it, where is Cauley-Stein?”
“Luke is just killing me. What is he trying to prove?”
“Kings doing their best to tank-block us. Pathetic.”

It went back and forth. The Kings with a turnover. Lakers gave it back up out of a timeout for an And-1 dunk to give the lead right back up. Two Laker freethrows on a fluke pass that got to Randle, they took the lead again by 1. The Kings hit a long jumper to take it back with 1:30 left. Randle with a head of steam to score a layup and take it back for the Lakers. A putback jam by the Kings and they had the lead back with 1 minute left. Russell with a layup to get it back with 41 seconds. The Kings miss, Laker ball, 5 seconds differential in the shotclock. We missed, but Nance was fouled on an offensive board for FTs with 5 seconds left. He made only one FT to give the Lakers a 2-point lead.

Timeout Kings. Down 2. Five seconds left. Fans on LG right here:

“I bet if Divac could waive a player during a live game, he would do it.”
“Kings are going to turn it over right here. Or they won't even get a shot off...”

Yep.

Kings inbound right to Brewer who was guarding the inbound pass. Turnover. Foul. Freethrows. Ballgame.

The Lakers won their third straight game (first time since November), 98-94.

Russell -- -- The players are going to play. Luke brought Russell, Randle and Nance back to close the game, and they closed. Russell hit a big three with 2:50 left and scored a huge layup in the final minute. Randle had big plays. Nance, as well. Not a very aggressive game from Russell tonight. I think the guards were looking to make that extra pass a bit more in this one. Defensively, a little flat-footed at times in the first half. “I don’t know. We’re just playing hard as a team,” Russell said. The Stats: He scored 13 points on 4-10 shooting (2-5 from three, 3-3 from the line) to go with 5 boards, 5 assists, 4 turnovers, 1 steal and 1 foul in 33 minutes. He was a -5. The Action: He missed a face-up baseline jumper on iso. Mustard off the hotdog trying to flip a pass behind him to Ingram in transition, turnover. He sank a wing three working off a Randle screen. He threw a pass away expecting Randle to cut differently. He got tapped on a three. He no-looked to Nance in transition for the dunk (great job looking off the D). Nice help D to strip the ball off WCS’s leg. He pushed out the break, got deep in the paint and fed Nance for FTs. Quick attack off the catch and he windmill flipped up and in the And-1, he made the FT. He missed the wing three. He choked, was fouled or had his layup goaltended with no call on the break (something didn’t look right there, so probably one of the latter two). Second Half: Sweet touch pass in the interior to Randle for the layup. Not close on a sideline three. He was blocked on a drive. He fed Black in the paint for the easy one. He drained a three. Turnover on a swing through that he wanted a call for. He attacked from the top of the arc and scored a layup over the challenging D with 41 seconds left. He was fouled with 0.2 left, he made both FTs.

Randle -- -- A lot of points around the rim tonight. He had 8 points in the first half but just 1 rebound as we struggled to control our glass. He got after it on the offensive glass in the second half. He scored a huge layup with 1:18 left, getting downhill to his left for the clutch score. The Kentucky bigs were getting after it tonight with their coach in attendance. WCS led the way early, but Randle’s big second half had some sensational moments. That big layup score, but also another transition play where he lost a reaching guard with a behind-the-back dribble, the finger rolled in And-1 layup around the help at the rim. “He just has to keep his motor going,” Clarkson said of when Randle has success like tonight. The Stats: He scored 25 points on 10-14 shooting (0-2 from three, 5-7 from the line) to go with 6 boards (5 offensive), 2 assists, 2 turnover and 3 fouls in 34 minutes. He was a +0. The Action: Too long on a three in early offense. He hit a floater in the paint off an interior feed. He swished a 16-footer from the wing. He attacked down the middle of the paint and scored the layup. He missed a corner three. He was fouled on a fade in the post, he made both FTs. He rushed the high-low pass, turnover. Second Half: He scored a layup off the touch pass from Russell in the paint. He was fouled on the breakaway layup attempt, he missed both. He powered in a layup in transition when Russell found him on a rim run. He tipped in the Clarkson miss. Clarkson’s blocked drive went right to him for a layup next time down. Clarkson zipped a pass to him off the screen-roll for a layup. He went behind his back to lose a defender, then took contact from a big at the rim and scooped in the And-1 finger roll, he made the FT. He got lost on the up-and-under to give up a layup. Wild pass somehow made it to him and he was fouled, he made both FTs. He attacked left and scored a layup with 1:18 left.

Ingram -- -- I like the general aggressiveness he’s playing with lately. You aren’t surprised anymore when he gets a massive throwdown (he had a couple tonight). Remember earlier in this season when that was rare? He hadn’t learned to use his length and play above the rim. Now, he’s learning the NBA game, looking for contact and trying to finish through it. Just a different mentality backed up by his growing confidence. His perimeter shot wasn’t there tonight, but he got to the rim consistently. The Stats: He scored 14 points on 6-14 shooting (0-2 from three, 2-3 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 steals and 1 foul in 25 minutes. He was a -5. The Action: He posted up, drew a double and kicked to Clarkson for three. He posted up again next time down and hit the turnaround. Nice dive cut and Clarkson found him for the jam. He filled a lane on the break and Larry found him for the layup. He missed a tough post fallaway. He tried to overpower his man in the paint and missed the short one. Second Half: He missed a pull-up 18-footer to start the half. He missed a sideline three. Hustle in the corner on D to save the ball inbounds. He attacked baseline, was blocked, got it back and missed the jumper, got it back again, attacked the paint and charged to erase his layup. Herky jerky drive to his left, bringing it back to his right for the layup miss, but he got the quick follow tip to go. He tracked down a loose ball, pushed it up court, stepped on the gas and hammered down an And-1 jam, he missed the FT. He sized up his man at the top of the arc, attacked and scored the layup. He missed a corner three. He was fouled on a drive with 4 seconds in the quarter, he made both FTs.

Clarkson -- -- He had 10 points on 4-8 shooting and 5 assists in the first half to lead the Lakers in both categories. Only 2 points and 1 assist in the second half. Some of his misses in the second half were off dribble penetration, which allowed Randle to clean up. So while the stats weren’t there, we were still effective when he was aggressive. “We were just sharing the ball, having fun,” Clarkson said. The Stats: He scored 12 points on 5-12 shooting (2-6 from three) to go with 3 boards, 6 assists, 1 turnover and no fouls in 30 minutes. He was a +12. The Action: He sank a three on the post kickout from Ingram on our first possession. He missed a wing three in early offense. He attacked and threw it away. He missed a sideline three. Late reaction on help D to give up a dunk. He hit Ingram diving for the slam. He sank a wing three off the flare screen. He ball-stopped on the sideline, iso’d and hit a step-back baseline pull-up. He missed a deep three up against the clock. He moved in from the corner and swished the baseline jumper. He gave up a good look at three for an airball step-back three on iso instead. Second Half: He banked a runner off the glass. He missed a three up against the shotclock. He attacked but Randle cleaned up his dribble penetration miss. He was swatted on a drive next time down but Randle cleaned it up again. He zipped a pass off the screen-roll to Randle for the layup.

Nance -- -- Disruptive first stint defensively with 3 steals. That’s the Nance I like. Making things happen with that hoop IQ, length and athleticism. “We got long athletic guys that get into the passing lanes,” Nance said of their D. He said if they play aggressive defensively, they play better. That’s really his story, for sure. He’s been doing a much better job being aggressive on the boards. I’m not sure, but it feels like he’s starting to figure out how he has to play. We’re seeing some more consistent efforts from him. The Stats: He scored 7 points on 2-5 shooting (0-1 from three, 3-4 from the line) to go with 11 boards (4 offensive), 2 assists, 1 turnover, 3 steals and 3 fouls in 28 minutes. He was a +2. The Action: Interior feed to Randle for the score. He missed a wing three. He poked a ball loose on D to get a stop. He gave up a dunk biting on a pumpfake. He swiped a cross-court pass, pushed it out and hit Ingram for the layup. He swiped a high post entry pass. He dunked off the great no-look feed from Russell in transition. He grabbed a miss and quickly banked. He was fouled on the drive and dish from Russell, he made both FTs. He missed an open baseline jumper. Second Half: He missed the elbow jumper. Fouled on an offensive board with 5 seconds left, he made one to lead by 2.

Black -- -- He missed a couple of putback attempts he should have had. One of those was nearly a clutch tank play where he missed the dunk, hit the floor, then fouled to give up FTs. A 4-point switch. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 3-6 shooting to go with 4 boards (2 offensive), 3 steals, 1 block and 4 fouls in 20 minutes. He was a +2. The Action: He missed the short jumphook off low position. He threw down a Clarkson pass that looked like it was about to hit rim. Second Half: He couldn’t follow slam the Ennis miss, then fouled while on the floor to give up FTs. He couldn’t finish a putback. He was blocked in the post. Russell found him in the paint for the easy one.

Brewer -- -- He sealed the deal with that tank special play by the Kings. Play of the game for them with just a few seconds left. They were likely going to inbound and run Hield off a screen to get the ball back for a three. Instead, Brewer guarded the inbounds pass, crouched low, then sprung to swipe the ball like it was thrown right to him. Awful turnover, huge steal by Brewer to seal the deal. Hard to believe he only had 6 points. He was active, getting to the rim or busting out in transition, but wasn’t finishing as many of those as he usually seems to. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 2-7 shooting (0-2 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 1 assist, 4 turnovers, 2 steals and 1 foul in 22 minutes. He was a +2. The Action: He choked a layup on the break. He tipped a pass loose, then was grabbed from behind for what looked like it should have been a clear-path foul (but they said he didn’t have control). Deflected perimeter pass of his, turnover. Then another bad one that JC thought was going to someone else and it went out of bounds. His layup was rejected out of bounds with ease. Looked like his three was partially blocked. Second Half: His post entry pass was picked off. Somehow a pass from Metta made it to him for a breakaway layup. He choked a layup on the break. He was stripped on a drive, turnover. Dive cut and Metta found him for the layup. Brewer steals an inbounds for FTs, he made both.

Ennis -- -- Pretty quiet night for him back to the bench. He couldn’t connect on his threes and missed some finishes at the rim, as well. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 2-9 shooting (0-3 from three) to go with 1 board, 2 assists, 1 steal and no fouls in 24 minutes. He was a +5. The Action: He swiped a kickout. Nice position D to force a kickout to go out of bounds. He missed a layup over a challenge. He missed a wing three at the end of the quarter. He got tapped on a sideline three up against the clock. He snaked off the high screen and scored the layup over the big. Second Half: He attacked from the corner and reversed. He missed a layup on the straight-line drive. His drive was blocked. He missed a three. He couldn’t finish a layup.

Robinson -- -- That was a crap lineup that Luke threw out there to start the fourth quarter, but they were aggressive defensively and that played to their strengths. They had several plays where they changed ends for scores as a result. Robinson had one of those with a huge breakaway slam on a leak out. “Down the stretch, we did what we’ve been struggling with all year. We finished the game,” Robinson said. The Stats: He scored 9 points on 4-6 shooting (1-4 from the line) to go with 5 boards, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 14 minutes. He was a +4. The Action: He missed a jumphook. He didn’t settle for the FT jumper, attacked and scored the layup. Bogus illegal screen call against him. He scored a putback layup outmuscling his man. He was rejected trying to reverse. Second Half: He was fouled in the paint and missed both FTs badly. No one stopped him as he pushed it up so he scored the layup. He up-faked, attacked and was fouled, he made one FT. He leaked out and we outlet to him for a breakaway slam.

World Peace -- -- As we headed into the fourth, the Suns had a commanding lead. Luke went to Metta to go with a Black, Robinson, Brewer and Ennis. The crowd was into it, no matter if your were pro-tank or pro-win. He missed all three shots from behind the arc, had some wild adventures with passes and manufactured a couple of huge freethrows. The Stats: HE scored 2 points on 0-3 shooting from three (2-2 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 1 assist and 1 foul in 9:34. He was a +3. The Action: He did not play in the first half. Second Half: He missed a wing three. He missed another wing three. He found Brewer for a layup off a dive. He posted up and drew FTs, making both. He missed a three to beat the buzzer.

Walton -- -- Lakers running Ingram in the post in the first couple of plays (with Russell coming off screens)… The Lakers cold to start, trailing 14-7 when the first timeout came… Lakers down 4 when Ennis and Black entered for Nance and JC… Brewer in for Ingram… Robinson in for Randle. Lakers closing the quarter poorly… The Lakers trailed 31-18 after the first quarter… He started a Black, Robinson, Brewer, Clarkson, Ennis lineup… A 7-0 Lakers run to start the quarter and they forced a timeout… Lakers down 3 when Nance came in for Black… Russell in for Ennis… Randle in for Robinson… Lakers down 2 when Ennis came back in for Clarkson… Ingram in late in the quarter for Brewer… The Lakers trailed 45-44 at the half. Lakers just 3-14 from three… Both teams trading hoops all quarter. Lakers doing a better job on the offensive glass… Black and Brewer in for Nance and Russell, Lakers up 1… Lakers stretched the lead to 5, but the Kings had an 8-0 run to take the lead… The Lakers trailed 70-69 heading into the fourth. The Suns at this point had a 21-point lead with 2:35 left in their game… Luke went to Metta to go with Black, Robinson, Brewer and Ennis… Intense tankage action going on… The Kings led by 3 when the timeout came midway through the quarter… Starters returning. Luke going for the W, I guess. Hope the basketball gods appreciate it come lottery… “It’s our players responsibility to play like that every night no matter what’s going on,” Luke said of the tank…